Vector Aerospace has been selected to begin upgrading the Royal Air Force’s fleet of Chinook multi-mission, heavy-lift helicopters next year, by installing the model 55-L-714A engine and spare parts from Honeywell Aerospace. The work is expected to last for five years. The contract, valued at approximately $185 million, was awarded to Honeywell in August.
Low-VOC Contact Adhesives, Cements A new line of low volatile organic content contact adhesives and cements is available from Royal Adhesives and Sealants. The new Silaprene brand contact adhesives and cements contain less than 250 grams per liter of VOCs, compared to more than 600 grams per liter of VOCs in traditional solvent-based contact adhesives and cements.
PATS Aircraft reissued STC to install an ECE substitute halogen lamp to replace nose gear and/or wing landing and nose gear taxi lights on various Boeing 737, 767, 777 and 747 series aircraft, STC ST02064LA
The Dutch military has formally requested modification kits to upgrade 29 of its AH-64D Apache Block I attack helicopters to a Block II configuration. The request was filed in August with the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency. If, as expected, it passes a review, the deal would be worth approximately $181 million, and include support equipment, spare parts, tools, test equipment and other resources. Boeing will act as the prime contractor, but offsets have been proposed as part of the contract.
Business aircraft MRO shops are adjusting to a lackluster refurbishment and modification market, reeling from the impact of tight budgets, cutbacks in flying and a huge inventory of unsold pre-owned aircraft.
The U.S. and India have begun working on a bilateral aviation safety agreement (BASA), which will lead to mutual acceptance of aeronautical products and parts developed in either country.The two countries saw the need for the pact, now that aeronautical products are being designed and manufactured in India. According to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the steps involved in a BASA process include: Skill upgrades of Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) certification experts through advanced training;
The Brazilian Air Force selected Vector Helicopter Services-North America to support its fleet of 32 Bell H-1H helicopters under a five-year agreement worth $15 million. Vector will provide in-country support for airframe inspection, repair services and logistics from a military facility. Its Andalusia, Ala. facility also will repair dynamic components and overhaul transmissions, gearboxes and hydraulics.
According to Greek legend, Prometheus brought fire to Earth by lighting a torch from the sun’s chariot. That same fire is being harnessed today at General Electric’s Repair Technology Center of Excellence, taking the form of a laser beam. The center’s research teams are finding more uses of this modern technology to repair a widening range of parts.
Premier Air Center amended STC to install a four- or five-display Universal Avionics EFI-890R electronic flight instrument system on Dassault Falcon 50 aircraft, STC ST02226CH
Elbit Systems received an operation and maintenance contract from the defense ministry covering the Israel Air Force’s (IAF) new Hawker Beechcraft T-6 (Effroni) turboprop trainer. The value of the deal has not been disclosed. The contract runs for five years and contains an option for five more. Elbit has provided MRO services to the IAF for training aircraft and helicopters since 2002.
ARINC Engineering Services Ltd. of Annapolis, Md., was the sole bidder on a cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for logistics support of up to 17 Russian Mi-17 helicopters procured for the Iraqi air force by the U.S. Army. The contract, valued at approximately $11 million, includes maintenance services and training in Iraq, and runs through Nov. 3, 2010.
Boeing has closed a deal with the government for the purchase of 15 CH-147F Chinook heavy-lift helicopters. The program includes a 20-year in-service support and maintenance contract worth about $2.2 billion, almost twice as much as the $1.2-billion price of the helicopters. The contract includes an option to extend MRO to the life expectancy of the aircraft. No word has been released yet as to whether Boeing or a local company will be responsible for maintenance services.
OGMA recently delivered an SA330 Puma helicopter operated by the French government to SIMMAD (Structure Integree du Maintien en condition operationnele des Materiels Aeronautiques de la Defense). SIMMAD has been a helicopter maintenance customer of OGMA's since 2002.
Panasonic Avionics and SIA Engineering Co. signed a 10-year agreement for the maintenance of inflight entertainment and communication equipment on Singapore Airlines' entire fleet. Panasonic will work in conjunction with SIAEC to provide a “one-stop-shop” solution covering all on-aircraft labor, logistics, spares, repairs and media loading. Parts/Components
Pacific Aerospace Resources & Technologies (PART) bought out Victorville Aerospace’s assets in August, finally anchoring that company after it filed for reorganization under Chapter 11 last September. PART plans to grow its new Victorville base, where it will offer MRO, modifications, asset and maintenance management, mission critical systems development and integration, platform technologies and flight test services to military and commercial customers from a hangar large enough to host an Airbus A380. Facilities
Latin American maintenance, repair and overhaul providers continue to expand their offerings in the worldwide MRO market, with new capabilities and certifications coming on line all the time. With increasing numbers of new-generation Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier and Embraer jets being delivered into the region, and still hundreds of older-generation aircraft needing more intensive maintenance, the potential market from Latin carriers alone is enough to spur MRO development in the region.
Siam Hiller Holdings reissued STC to install Allison 250-C18A, -C18C, -C20, -C20B engine and related changes on various Bell 47G helicopters, STC SH657NW
Consultation periods for an EASA Notice of Proposed Amendment (NPA 2009-06) concerning the use of composite materials in aircraft structures ends this month. With new, largely composite jetliners soon to enter the market, NPA 2009-06 aims to create a single Acceptable Means of Compliance chapter (AMC 20-29) to standardize recognized good practices for composite aircraft structure design, manufacturing and maintenance.
Aerospace executives hope to continue making inroads on their long quest to simplify and ease U.S. export controls on certain aerospace parts with a White House and congressional review of the U.S. export control system. President Obama in August directed the National Economic Council and National Security Council to undertake a broad interagency review of the U.S. export control system, according to a White House statement. The review is to include both the dual-use and defense trade processes.
A J Walter will support another Astraeus Airlines Boeing 757-200 under an existing power-by-the-hour support arrangement with the U.K.-based sub-lease services and aircraft and crew provider, which operates a fleet of five 757s and two 737NGs. A J Walter has supported Astraeus Airlines from its base near London-Gatwick since the carrier's launch in 2002.
Jettech to install a Sandel SA4550 primary attitude display, SN4500 primary navigation displays and associated equipment into a Cessna 500 to obtain WAAS approval for a Garmin GNS-400W/500W global navigation system with an FGS-70 automatic flight control system, STC ST10945SC
September's Technical Innovation correctly said that metal fiber brushes can carry two to four times the current as carbon brushes, but should have continued to say that 250 amps per square in. are easily obtained with 1,000 amps per square in. under select conditions. The caption on p. 32 should have read, An X-ray shot of the laser-drilled cooling channels in the turbine blades of a Rolls-Royce Trent 1000. Boeing provided the September cover photo of a 787.
Midcoast Aviation to install structural provisions, data connectivity and power supply for a dual Class II electronic flight bag on Bombardier CL-600-2B16 (CL-604) aircraft, STC ST02721CH-D
